Ministers from the Southern African Development Community gathered at Skukuza in South Africa's Kruger National Park on Saturday to address rising global geopolitical pressures and advance regional integration.
Acting Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Teboko Seokolo, said the meeting is expected to provide clear direction on how the region should respond collectively to geopolitical challenges. He noted that member states had previously agreed to accelerate policies for regional integration and development, with South Africa currently leading the bloc.
Seokolo emphasised the need to translate political commitments into concrete plans so that the region's mineral wealth benefits its people. He also highlighted expectations that Angola and Mozambique would outline how their oil and gas reserves could help address energy challenges across SADC countries.
On Friday, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola stated that the outcomes of the retreat would strengthen solidarity among member states and position the regional bloc as a stronger player in global affairs. High-level panel sessions focused on the impact of global geopolitical developments.
